Cowboys countdown to kickoff: Top 100 iconic games – Day 59

It is Day 59 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.

We’re now on Day 59 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit a Thanksgiving blowout that became historic because of one unbelievable defensive play. The Cowboys entered Thanksgiving 2023 at 7-3, still perfect at home and trying to keep pressure on Philadelphia in the NFC East. Washington came in at 4-7, with Sam Howell throwing for a ton of yards but also taking sacks and turning the ball over at a high rate.

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Thursday, November 23, 2023 — 4:30 p.m. ET

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Final Score: Dallas Cowboys 45, Washington Commanders 10

Dallas did not explode immediately. The Cowboys’ first touchdown came late in the first quarter after a 90-yard drive, with Prescott finding Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard score. Washington answered in the second quarter with a Joey Slye field goal, but Dallas regained control before halftime. Prescott found Brandin Cooks for a 31-yard touchdown, Tony Pollard scored from seven yards out with 26 seconds left in the half, and the Cowboys went to the locker room up 20-10.

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The third quarter was quiet on the scoreboard, but the fourth quarter became a holiday avalanche. Brandon Aubrey opened the quarter with a 52-yard field goal, then Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a 15-yard touchdown and found Lamb again for the two-point conversion. A few minutes later, Prescott connected with KaVontae Turpin for a 34-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 38-10 and turning the game into a full Thanksgiving party at AT&T Stadium.

Then came the historic moment of the day. With 4:39 left, Howell threw toward the sideline, DaRon Bland jumped the route, and suddenly history was in motion. He intercepted the pass, spun away from traffic, dodged multiple Washington players, and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown. It was his fifth pick-six of the 2023 season, breaking the NFL single-season record for interception returns for touchdowns. The play put Dallas ahead 45-10 and transformed an already-dominant win into one of the most memorable Thanksgiving games in Cowboys and NFL history.

This game belongs on the countdown because it was more than another Thanksgiving rout. It was the day Bland turned a great season into a record-breaking one, doing it on one of the NFL’s most visible stages. The Cowboys improved to 8-3, extended their home winning streak, and gave fans the perfect holiday celebration.